Mechanical Engineers Salary
The median pay for a mechanical engineers in Tennessee is $99,550/year ($47.86/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $64K at the entry level to $156K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $110,882 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 18.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $100K get you in Tennessee?
About mechanical engineers
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Mechanical engineers pay in Tennessee tracks closely to the national median, $100K locally vs. $104K nationwide, a 4% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,215/month, 18.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level mechanical engineers (10th percentile) start around $64K. Mid-career wages sit at $100K. Top earners bring in $156K or more, a $92K spread from bottom to top.
Mechanical Engineers salary by metro in Tennessee
9 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $107K | +7% | 510 |
| Memphis | $104K | +5% | 390 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $99K | -0% | 990 |
| Knoxville | $99K | -0% | 760 |
| Johnson City | $97K | -3% | 60 |
| Jackson | $96K | -3% | 80 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $95K | -5% | 240 |
| Clarksville | $93K | -7% | 150 |
| Morristown | $80K | -19% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track mechanical engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a mechanical engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $100K, rent takes 18.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for mechanical engineers in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new mechanical engineers typically earn — is $64K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,849/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 32% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is mechanical engineer a high-paying job in Tennessee?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $100K locally vs. $104K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for mechanical engineers?
Tennessee pays $100K median vs. the U.S. average of $104K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $111K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do mechanical engineers make in Tennessee?
The median is $99,550 a year, that works out to about $48 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $64,150, and experienced mechanical engineers can clear $156,150. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $100K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,535/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 18.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a mechanical engineers salary go in Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median mechanical engineers salary is worth about $110,882 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do mechanical engineers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.